As Pete explains in the video below, this particular Gorgosaurus was particularly interesting due to the number of severe injuries it sustained in life – and the fact that it live long enough for them to heal, showing scar tissue and unusual bone growth.

What Pete and his team from the Black Hills Institute uncovered when they were casting the original fossil is perhaps the most surprising – this Gorgosaur may have had brain cancer. Check it out in this video:

We were totally amazed and overwhelmed by the fabulous dinosaur drawings that poured through our doors throughout the contest. The creativity – and scientific understanding – of our entrants is astounding.

The contest was judged by HMNS curator of paleontology Dr. Robert T Bakker, and winners were chosen in two categories: Scientific Accuracy and Artistic Effect. It was such a tough decision – and we were so impressed with every entry – that we’ll be posting a slideshow where they can all be seen – I hope you’ll come back soon to check them out – there are some very cool kids out there!

And the winners are…

Scientific Accuracy

Dr. Bakker picked Todd Blackmon’s drawing in the category of scientific accuracy because Todd did something very scientific – he labeled his drawing, pointing out the anatomy of T. rex. This is something Dr. Bakker himself always does in his drawings, because it helps people to learn and remember.

Here’s what Todd had to say about his winning illustration:

“My reason for entering the contest was to have fun. I wanted to follow the rules of the contest and draw T-Rex and point out his features. It was very challenging to look at the huge dinosaur and make him fit on a piece of paper.”

T. rex by Todd Blackmon

Artistic Effect

Dr. Bakker chose Myria Perez’ drawing for the category of Artistic Effect because of the compelling scene she created – a scene that’s both emotionally compelling and based on current scientific understanding of the circumstances surrounding Leonardo’s death, from the hypothesized flooding event to the cracks that can be seen in Leonardo’s abdomen today. If you visit the Dino Mummy exhibit, you’ll see just how accurate Myria’s artistic vision truly is.

Here’s what Myria had to say about her creation:

“Creating “Leonardo’s Death”
Creating Leonardo’s death was a thrilling experience! I learned so much about his lifestyle. Before I started the final drawing, I decided to have an action scene because I am certain Leonardo’s last moments were filled with action. I wanted to draw a picture that showed that action and a lot of detail.

The first sketch I did of Leonardo was just an idea based on what I could remember about the exhibit and how he died with the wound. After the initial sketch, I went online to find pictures of Brachylophosaur and thought about different positions I could place Leonardo in. I decided on a pose for him: slightly tipping, an open mouth out towards the sky, and his tail curved around the wound a Daspletosaurus gave his side.

Leonardo’s last moments probably included rain and a flood to perfectly preserve him as a mummy. I decided to have the water up almost to his knee, but with enough room to let you see the details of his wound. One of my favorite parts about drawing this scene was there was a lot of splashing and action with the blood trickling down and the rain. The blood from his side oozes from his side and then splashes in the water.

I was able to show this by shading dark to light under the water ripples so it would look like it faded. I found it challenging to show the rain hitting Leonardo and sliding down his body off into the water after being blown by the wind. The part of the drawing that took me the longest was all of the small hard to see scales over the entire body of Leonardo. The scales are larger on the front of his legs because he would have needed better protection to walk through the brush.

Creating “Leonardo’s Death” is a drawing experience that has changed how I will look at my future drawings. “Leonardo’s Death” has been my most successful drawing so far!”

“Leonardo’s Death” by Myria Perez

Congratulations to Myria and Todd! They’ll both receive $200 gift certificates to Texas Art Supply – keep drawing! – and a signed dinosaur drawing by Dr. Bakker himself. And, thank you to everyone else who entered – we’ll be posting a slideshow of all their creative, fun and thoughtful drawings here soon.

For the past week and a half, the HMNS paleontology team – led by Dr. Robert Bakker – has been back in Seymour, TX, digging for Dimetrodon at a site they’ve now been working for several years. (You can read more of what’s been found already in our daily blog from the field in 2007). Today, they said goodbye to the site for several months, after leaving it covered and safe for the coming winter weather, and pulling out a ton (possibly literally) of new material to study and prepare until then.

David Temple – our associate curator of paleontology and a one of our BEYONDbones bloggers- provides this series’ farewell podcast with a wrapup of their discoveries – and a review of the local cuisine.

Never fear! If you miss the daily update, stop by the museum – members of the team and Museum volunteers often work to preserve these fossils in public areas, like the Paleontology Hall or the Dinosaur Mummy CSI exhibition. You can also check out earlier updates from this dig trip:

Our paleontology team – led by Dr. Robert Bakker – is back in Seymour, TX, digging for Dimetrodon at a site they’ve now been working for several years. (You can read more of what’s been found already in our daily blog from the field in 2007). Today, they’re wrapping things up to come back to Houston – and they’ve sent us two updates.

In the first, David Temple – our associate curator of paleontology and a one of our BEYONDbones bloggers, talks about the darker side of Texas paleontology – cactus spines – and how you protect a dig site for the winter weather.

In the second, we’re pleased to bring you an update from Tim Quarles. Tim was a member of the team that found and excavated Leonardo, the famous mummified dinosaur that is now on display here in Houston. He was also there for our recent trip to Malta, where Leonardo was found. So, the team was thrilled that he happened to be in Texas for a few days, and was able to stop by our dig site. In his update, Tim gives us his impressions from digging in the Permian for the first time.